Joyce Mulama
Guest Author
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/ 12 June 2004

Religious leaders focus on Aids

A meeting of more than 187 church leaders from across Africa has highlighted the role of female clergy in fighting the Aids pandemic that has swept the continent. The four-day gathering, which ended on Friday, was organised by the All Africa Conference of Churches to explore ways of stepping up efforts to curb the spread of HIV.

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/ 9 June 2004

Female genital mutilation — or medical practice?

A society free of female genital mutilation, also known as female circumcision, appeared distant this week after a group of women’s rights activists accused medical personnel of carrying out the practice. The activists made the allegation in Nairobi, Kenya, on Monday, after a meeting of former circumcisers organised by Equality Now.

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/ 7 June 2004

Abortion law debate grips Kenya

Calls for Kenyan officials to clamp down on abortion were sounded anew last week, during a mass for 15 aborted foetuses discovered near a river. Authorities seek to assure the public that they are taking steps to prevent a repeat of this situation, but a question mark is hanging over why the government has failed to enforce anti-abortion laws.

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/ 28 May 2004

Another step towards lasting peace

Sudan has edged closer to a final peace deal after the government and rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Army signed three protocols on Wednesday night that are crucial to ending Africa’s longest-running civil war. Over two million people have been killed and four million displaced by the war waged by the Islamic government in the north and black Christians and animists in the south.

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/ 26 May 2004

New Constitution takes up cudgels for women

As the clock ticks closer to the deadline for introducing a new Constitution in Kenya, Atsango Chesoni for one is filled with anticipation at the coming change. The women’s rights activist and official at Bomas Katiba Watch says the country’s existing Constitution discriminates against women, especially on the issue of property rights — and that change in this matter is long overdue.

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/ 12 May 2004

Are Kenya’s press watchdogs being muzzled?

"The stability of any government is measured by the freedom it gives to the press," says Kenyan media activist Mitch Odero, adding that a "clean" government should not be worried about the press. But recent statements by Kenyan authorities indicate that they have a less sanguine view of the country’s journalists.

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/ 12 May 2004

‘What is the Kenyan government hiding?’

”The stability of any government is measured by the freedom it gives to the press. If the government is clean in its dealings, then I see no reason why it should be worried about the press,” says Kenyan media activist Mitch Odero. Recent statements by authorities indicate that they have a less sanguine view of the country’s journalists, however.

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/ 10 May 2004

New report fires up Kenya’s abortion debate

A report suggesting the legalisation of abortion in Kenya to reduce maternal mortality has sparked a heated debate in the country. Pro-life organisations claim that preventing unwanted pregnancies is a better way of reducing these deaths. An estimated 300 000 abortions are performed in the country each year, causing an about 20 000 women and girls to be hospitalised with related complications.